Enticing eyes
Double suture and twist your way to double eyelids.
THE eyes are said to be the windows to a person’s soul. Audrey Hepburn once said: “The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.”
Women have different ideas about beauty. To some, having double eyelids makes their eyes look bigger, brighter, and to some extent, more beautiful. Others are unfazed by not having this feature.
A fact that cannot be denied is that having double eyelids makes applying cosmetics much easier.
For Rachel Saw Teih Ching, her eyes are key to making her look more attractive. Working in sales, her days are spent meeting clients, and she feels that looking good is important in her line of work.
Every morning for the past seven years, this 27-year-old avid diver has consistently spent half an hour in front of the mirror every day, applying and reapplying liquid eyeliner to accentuate her eyes – all to create an illusion of bigger and brighter eyes.
Although aids like double eyelid glue and eyelid tape or crease tape can be used to give temporary double eyelids, Saw finds that these items do no good for her.
“I’ve tried using the eyelid tapes, but even with it on, it makes no difference to the way I look,” Saw says.
Ways to obtain double eyelids
Other than the use of makeup and eyelid tape, a double eyelid surgery, known as blepharoplasty, can help women achieve double eyelids.
There are two types of surgery – incision and non-incision. The incision procedure requires the surgeon to make a significant cut on the upper eyelid to remove the skin in order to form a crease on the eye. The non-incision procedure uses sutures to create the crease instead.
The problem with the non-incision method is that it does not last as long as the incisional method. Here is where the double suture and twist (DST) procedure comes in.
According to Dr David Low Teck Wai, “DST is a widely used technique in Japan since its invention in 2001, and its innovative technique, developed by Dr Akihiro Minami, has been shown to yield comparable results to incision procedures.”
Dr Low learnt how to carry out the procedure under the guidance of Dr Akihiro, and is one of the few
• qualified doctors in Malaysia familiar with the DST method.
“DST is a relatively simple procedure.
“Anaesthetics are first injected before the procedure begins.
“The surgeon makes three small punctures on the upper eyelids of each eye. Two sutures are then used to pass through those punctures using a specific twisting technique so that the sutures are twisted around each other about four to five times.
“After minimal suturing, the double sutures are then tied together to create a fold on the upper eyelid.
“When the patient opens his or her eyes, the underbelly of the skin is pulled inwards, resulting in a natural looking crease,” Dr Low explains.
It takes about 40 to 60 minutes to complete the procedure on both eyes.
It is the norm for patients who undergo any sort of surgery to bruise or swell.
With DST, there is a great variation among individuals with regards to swelling and bruising. Some may have minor bruising or swelling, while others may not have it at all.
However, those who encounter swelling can rest assured that it will subside within seven days.
According to Dr Low, some patients even find it comfortable to go about their daily routine, like grocery shopping, immediately after undergoing the procedure.
A possible setback is achieving symmetrical eyelids. If symmetry is not achieved after a week, the patient can seek a reversal, where sutures will be removed, and choose to redo the sutures again.
A reversal can be done as soon as the day after the procedure. Too long a wait can result in scarring of the eyelid.
The effects of the procedure can be permanent, while some last about five years, and the sutures can be taken out to reverse the effects.
Changing one’s image
Upon hearing about the DST procedure, Saw made the decision to set up an appointment with Dr Low.
Her biggest reason for getting double eyelids is to boost her self-confidence.
Accentuating the eyes with makeup, and undergoing certain aesthetic procedures, to achieve bigger and brighter eyes are common. However, not everyone is comfortable with permanently changing the way you look.
Saw’s decision to get double eyelids were met with disapproval from her parents.
“They didn’t know what the procedure would do to me, and said it’s risky.
“After explaining to them how simple, safe and reversible the process is, they eventually gave in and supported my decision,” Saw recalls.
After undergoing the procedure, she says she now feels more confident about herself.
To those who fear pain, Saw says that the anaesthetic injection before the procedure didn’t hurt, and only ‘felt like an ant bite’.
Suitable candidates
According to Dr Low, the procedure is not meant for all. The best candidates are those with thin skin, or those who do not have a lot of fat around their eyelids.
In addition, those who have complex eyelid problems like asymmetric eyes, and sleepy or droopy eyes, are not suitable candidates.
He lists smokers as being at a higher risk of prominent scarring when undergoing the incisional method, and advises them to look into the DST procedure instead.
Men are not excluded from his list as he explains that men have undergone this procedure.
It is of vital importance for anyone who is thinking of undergoing a double eyelid procedure to conduct research into the different types of procedures.
“Make sure that the doctor is sufficiently qualified and experienced, regardless if the person is suited for DST or blepharoplasty. Ensure that you ask a lot of questions before deciding, and get a thorough assessment of your suitability,” Dr Low advises.
It is also important for you to look for a certified medical practitioner, and ensure that the centre and the doctor is registered with the Malaysian Medical Council.